Moraine Estate Winery
We were proud to feature Moraine Estate Winery in November 2019.
Moraine is a family-owned winery and vineyard overlooking Okanagan Lake, located just minutes from the city of Penticton. From its shelf-like location above striking clay bluffs, Moraine peers over the landscape and water. These iconic glaciated white clay cliffs comprise the breathtaking Naramata Bench and inspire the winery’s land-formed name. The western exposure of the vineyards permits the vines to capture every ray of sunlight from mid-morning to nightfall, and this, combined with a cooling breeze, delivers beautifully ripe and flavourful grapes. Moraine’s winemaker Dwight Sick produces a superb lineup of fresh, elegant, fruit-driven wines of distinction.
Tasting Notes
VIOGNIER, 2018
Moraine Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Okanagan Valley, B.C.
Varietal: Viognier
Vineyard: Various Naramata vineyards
Alcohol: 13.5%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 575
Appearance: Very pale in colour.
Nose: Light honeysuckle and peach aromas on the nose.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, elegant, classic Viognier character – white peach and lemon flavours lifted with a floral note. Fresh and lively on the palate.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now and through 2020.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Apricot and almond chicken salad, seared scallops with saffron cream sauce, porchetta with maple-glazed parsnips, chili-lime shrimp ramen, and honey glazed ham with Dijon mustard.
PINOT NOIR, 2018
Moraine Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Okanagan Valley, B.C.
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Sophia Vineyard, Naramata
Alcohol: 12.6%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,100
Appearance: Deep ruby in colour with a violet rim.
Nose: Black raspberry bouquet with an undergrowth note.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry and savoury, black cherry flavour carried on lively acidity; firmly structured with an uptick of ripe tannins on the finish.
Quality: Very Good+. Hold 1-2 years.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Braised duck with snow peas, broccoli and salmon casserole, roasted chicken with heirloom tomatoes, beef and barley stew, fettuccine alfredo with leeks and bacon, and grilled tuna with herbed aioli.
RIESLING RESERVE, 2018
Moraine Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Okanagan Valley, B.C.
Varietal: Riesling
Vineyard: Anastasia Vineyard, Naramata
Alcohol: 12.5%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 250
Appearance: Pale straw colour.
Nose: Minerally, citrus zest bouquet.
Palate: Light-bodied, crisply dry, green apple and lime flavours with a crab apple note on the finish.
Quality: Very Good+. Drinking well now but will reward cellaring for 3 – 4 years.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Baked camembert with garlic and rosemary, chicken piccata with artichoke hearts, grilled shrimp tacos with avocado salsa, pulled pork sliders with pineapple slaw, and jalapeño deviled eggs with cilantro.
RED MOUNTAIN, 2016
Moraine Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Okanagan Valley, B.C.
Varietal: Cabernet Franc (46%), Malbec (29%), and Merlot (25%)
Vineyard: Anastasia Vineyard, Naramata
Alcohol: 13.8%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 450
Appearance: Deep ruby colour.
Nose: Lightly cedary nose of black fruits enriched with oak spice.
Palate: Medium to full-bodied, dry, well-extracted juicy cherry and plum flavours; well-balanced with nicely integrated oak and a firm finish.
Quality: Outstanding. Drinking well now but deserves a year or two in your cellar.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Grilled flank steak with mint chimichurri sauce, sweet and spicy Portobello mushroom caps, balsamic pork chops with deep fried olives, creamy gorgonzola polenta, and spicy orange marmalade pork tenderloin.
CLIFFHANGER WHITE, 2018
Moraine Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Okanagan Valley, B.C.
Varietal: Gewurztraminer (51%), Pinot Gris (49%)
Vineyard: Kutyn Vineyard & Lone Oak Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,150
Appearance: Pale straw colour.
Nose: Aromatic, minerally nose of lychee and grapefruit with a light rose petal note.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, rich lychee and green peach flavour prolonged by zesty, citrus acidity. A beautifully balanced wine. Great tension between ripe fruit and fresh acidity.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now.
Critic Rating: 90 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Grilled chicken thighs with Israeli couscous salad, apple cinnamon pork chops, foie gras and truffle fettuccine, veal with lemon and capers, and white peach and lychee cobbler.
SYRAH, 2017
Moraine Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Okanagan Valley, B.C.
Varietal: Syrah
Vineyard: Anastasia Vineyard, Naramata
Alcohol: 14.3%
Volume: 750mL
Appearance: Dense purple colour.
Nose: Savoury-herbal, blackberry bouquet with oak spice and a floral grace note.
Palate: Full-bodied, dry, opulent mouth-filling flavours of mulberry and black cherry with a tobacco note. Well-integrated oak and a firm satisfying finish.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink through 2020 – 21.
Critic Rating: 91 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Turkey burgers with zucchini and feta, seared venison with black berry sauce, veal osso bucco with gnocchi, Cajun-spiced barbeque short ribs, chorizo and roasted vegetable skewers, and wild boar vindaloo with basmati rice.
RIESLING, 2018
Moraine Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Okanagan Valley, B.C.
Varietal: Riesling
Vineyard: Red Row Vineyard, Naramata
Alcohol: 13%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 850
Appearance: Clear, bright. Very pale core.
Nose: Petrol fumes, lime, honeysuckle, orange blossom, white flowers.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. Tart variation. Green apple, lemon and lime citrus, grapefruit.
Quality: Very Good+. 88 points. Decent, not mind-blowing, but a nice tart version of good Riesling.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Cream of carrot soup, crab and coconut risotto, grilled eggplant and chickpea wraps, crispy duck with red onion sauce, pita chips with grilled red pepper dip, clams with lemongrass and chilies.
GEWURZTRAMINER, 2018
Moraine Estate Winery, Okanagan Valley Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Okanagan Valley, B.C.
Varietal: Gewurztraminer
Vineyard: Kutyn Vineyard, Naramata Bench
Alcohol: 14%
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 230
Appearance: Clear, bright. Very pale straw core.
Nose: Grapefruit, lemon, baking spice.
Palate: Medium acid, light body. Rose floral, tropical note, hint of lychee.
Quality: Very Good+. 89 points. Lighter, more subtle, subdued variation of regular gewürztraminer. Good quality though, great structure.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Thai red duck curry, roasted pumpkin salad with honey and balsamic dressing, Korean fried chicken wings, smoked salmon Reuben sandwich, classic French onion soup, and broccoli and brie quiche.